About Good Shepherd Catholic Church · Denver, Colorado
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Denver located in the historic Congress Park neighborhood on Denver's 7th Avenue Parkway. The parish was formed in 1981 through the merger of two historic sister parishes, St. John the Evangelist (est. 1922) and St. Philomena (est. 1892), and today serves more than 1,000 parish families. It is also home to Good Shepherd Catholic School, a preschool-through-8th-grade Catholic school of about 450–460 students, and offers a wide range of liturgical, faith formation, community and outreach ministries for all ages.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Christopher (Chris) Marbury
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
Good Shepherd is a multi-generational Catholic community in Denver's Congress Park neighborhood that has been praying, serving and forming parishioners for more than 120 years. Members care for one another through active liturgical, faith formation, music, young-adult, school and outreach ministries — including a St. Vincent de Paul conference, a long-running Sunday Lunch Bunch (serving sandwiches since 1988), and a ministry to the aged, sick and homebound. With its own Catholic school (preschool–8th grade), daily and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a welcoming pastor and deacon, it offers an easy way for families, singles and young adults to plug into parish life on the 7th Avenue Parkway.
Mass times at Good Shepherd Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:30 AM
- Tuesday–Friday: 6:30–6:50 AM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM and 3:00–3:45 PM
- Wednesday 'Evening of Mercy' (Adoration and Confessions): 6:30 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 'Evening of Mercy' (Adoration and Confessions): 6:30 PM
Parish History
Good Shepherd Parish in Denver traces its roots to two earlier parishes on the city's east side. St. Philomena's was established in August 1892 by Bishop Matz with Fr. Michael W. Donovan as its first pastor, and St. John the Evangelist Parish was officially established in September 1922 with Fr. William Morrin as pastor (its earlier wooden church had been built on land donated by James Motley). Faced with declining enrollment at both parishes and schools, Archbishop Casey merged them on January 9, 1981, creating Good Shepherd Catholic Parish and appointing Fr. John Anderson as its first pastor. The St. John's church became the worship site and both school buildings stayed open.
- 1892 — Bishop Matz establishes St. Philomena's; Fr. Michael W. Donovan named first pastor.
- September 1922 — St. John the Evangelist Parish officially established; Fr. William Morrin first pastor.
- January 9, 1981 — Archbishop Casey announces merger; Fr. John Anderson becomes first Good Shepherd pastor.
- 1981 — Brother Carver Morris, a Franciscan, becomes first principal of Good Shepherd Catholic School.
- 1984 — Sr. Alice Zwiefelhofer, S.F.C.C. takes over as principal with ~35 students; launches Montessori and recruiting effort.
- 1985 — First graduating class of eleven boys from the Good Shepherd middle school.
- 1991 — Fr. Anderson departs; Fr. O'Meara appointed pastor.
- 1999 — Fr. Neal Pfister appointed pastor.
- 2002 — $6.4M capital campaign launched to renovate the school and build a new parish center.
- 2003 — Unified parish/school campus on Elizabeth Street opens.
- 2010 — Fr. James Fox becomes pastor; Fr. Faustinus Anyamele named parochial vicar.
- June 11, 2010 — Archbishop Casey announces razing of St. Philomena's church (Higgins Chapel) for senior housing.
- 2017 — 'Renewing Today, Building for Tomorrow' campaign upgrades the church (new prayer chapel, elevator, bridal room, restrooms).
- 2025 — Fr. James E. Fox retires; Fr. Christopher Marbury appointed pastor effective July 1, 2025.
Good Shepherd Catholic School
Good Shepherd Catholic School serves more than 450 students in preschool through 8th grade on the parish campus at 620 Elizabeth Street. The school traces its roots to the parish schools of St. Philomena and St. John the Evangelist (graduating classes documented back to 1924–25), and merged into a single Good Shepherd school after the 1981 parish merger. In 2003 a major renovation unified the elementary and middle school students under one roof and added the Parish Family Center.
- Preschool through 8th grade; ~450–460 students.
- Principal: Joe Barrett ([email protected]).
- Admissions Director: Sheilah Bradley ([email protected]).
- Montessori program at the elementary level began in the mid-1980s under Sr. Alice Zwiefelhofer.
Faith Formation
The parish's Faith Formation Program, directed by Stephen Sweeney ([email protected], 303-261-1028), serves learners from preschool through adulthood. The parish frames ongoing faith formation as 'a mystery we can always learn more about' and encourages parishioners of every age and walk of life to take part.
- Director of Faith Formation: Stephen Sweeney
- Programs from preschool through adulthood
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass through a wide range of liturgical roles coordinated by the parish. The parish emphasizes that the Holy Mass is 'the center of our faith in Christ Jesus' and that it takes many members of the body of Christ to bring the Eucharistic celebration to life.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick & Homebound
- Ushers
- Greeters
- Decorating Committee (plants, flowers, Christmas & Easter setup — contact Nicole Mulvany)
Music Ministry
Good Shepherd's Music Ministry, led by Music Director Natalie Thompson, aims to help the assembly fully and consciously participate in the liturgy through sung prayer. The ministry includes multi-generational ensembles as well as a contemporary band that leads the Sunday 5:00 PM Mass.
- Adult Choir (multi-generational, 7th graders through seasoned citizens)
- Children's Choir
- Cantors and Psalmists (auditioned)
- Sunday 5:00 PM contemporary Mass band
- Music Director: Natalie Thompson ([email protected])
Outreach & Community Ministries
Outreach at Good Shepherd centers on serving the poor, the sick and the elderly of the wider Denver community. Active groups include a St. Vincent de Paul conference, the long-running Sunday Lunch Bunch sandwich ministry, and a Ministry to the Aged, Sick and Homebound.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets second Tuesday of each month, 5:00 PM, small side of the Parish Center.
- Sunday Lunch Bunch — preparing sandwiches since February 1988 to fill the weekend gap left by weekday meal missions.
- Ministry to the Aged, Sick & Homebound.
- Breakfast Burritos after Mass.
Young Adult Ministry
Good Shepherd's Young Adult Ministry gathers twice a month for a mix of faith-formation and social events. Members typically meet at the table of the Lord for Sunday Mass and then gather at the table of fellowship in the parish hall to build community among Catholics in their 20s and 30s.
- Twice-monthly meetings: one social event and one faith-formation event each month.
- Contact: [email protected]
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Christopher (Chris) Marbury ([email protected]) and supported by Deacon Mark Leonard (Pastoral Associate) and a lay staff team handling faith formation, school operations, communications, music, and parish administration.
- Pastor: Fr. Christopher Marbury — [email protected]
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Mark Leonard — [email protected]
- Director of Faith Formation: Stephen Sweeney — [email protected], 303-261-1028
- Principal: Joe Barrett — [email protected]
- Admissions Director: Sheilah Bradley — [email protected]
- Music Director: Natalie Thompson — [email protected]
- Business Administrator: Domitilla Pontes
- Operations Manager: Ana Salazar — [email protected], 303-261-1021
- Director of Communications & Marketing: Cinthia Bahena
- Office Manager: Angela Elias
- Parish phone: 303-322-7706
Contact, Sacraments & Location
The parish office is located on the same campus as the church and school at 2626 E 7th Avenue Parkway, at the corner of 7th Street and Elizabeth Street in Denver's Congress Park neighborhood. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. Sacramental records (baptism, confirmation, marriage) can be requested through Stephen Sweeney.
- Address: 2626 E 7th Avenue Pkwy, Denver, CO 80206
- Phone: 303-322-7706
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sacrament Records: Stephen Sweeney, [email protected], 303-261-1028
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Anderson1981–1991
First pastor of the newly merged Good Shepherd Parish, appointed by Archbishop Casey.
- Fr. O'Meara1991–
Succeeded Fr. Anderson as pastor.
- Fr. Neal Pfister1999–
Appointed pastor in 1999; launched the $6.4M capital campaign in 2002 that unified the parish and school campus; later took leave of absence to care for his mother.
- Fr. James E. Fox2010s–2025
Appointed pastor after Fr. Pfister's leave of absence. Retired in 2025; parish held a farewell BBQ and ice-cream-truck celebration for him.
- Fr. Christopher Marbury2025–
Appointed new pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, effective July 1, 2025; previously served through the COVID period at the parish.